Breakaway coupling, conduit system utilizing the coupling and methods of making the same

ABSTRACT

A breakaway coupling, a conduit system utilizing the coupling and methods of making the same are provided, the breakaway coupling being adapted to be incorporated into a conduit system and comprising a pair of tubular coupling members each having opposed ends one of which is adapted to be interconnected to a part of the conduit system and the other of which is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the other end of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by a certain axial force being created therebetween, each of the coupling members having a fixed valve seat and a movable valve member for opening and closing its respective valve seat whereby the valve seats of the coupling members must both be open before a fluid flow can pass through the coupling members, each of the coupling members having a spring operatively associated with its respective valve member to tend to move that valve member to its closed position, each of the coupling members having an abutment for engaging the valve member of the other coupling member and moving the same to its open position in opposition to its respective spring as the coupling members are being disposed in their coupling engagement, the fixed valve seat of one of the coupling members comprising a cup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected by a sidewall to an open end disposed in fluid communication with the one opposed end of that one coupling member, the sidewall having an opening therethrough, the valve member of the one coupling member comprising an annular slide member telescopically receiving the cup-shaped member therein so as to slide on the sidewall thereof and tend to be urged to a position thereon by its spring to close the opening thereof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional patent application of its copendingparent patent application, Ser. No. 417,381, filed Oct. 5, 1989, nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,917,149, which, in turn, is a continuation patentapplication of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No.181,296, filed Apr. 14, 1988, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new breakaway coupling for incorporationinto a conduit system, a conduit system utilizing the breakaway couplingand to new methods of making the same.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to provide a breakaway coupling for incorporation into aconduit system and comprising a pair of tubular coupling members eachhaving opposed end means one of which is adapted to be interconnected toa part of the conduit system and the other of which is held in sealingand coupling engagement with the other end means of the other couplingmember until uncoupled therefrom by a certain axial force means beingcreated therebetween, each of the coupling members having a fixed valveseat means and a movable valve member for opening and closing itsrespective valve seat means whereby the valve seat means of the couplingmembers must both be open before a fluid flow can pass through thecoupling members, each of the coupling members having spring meansoperatively associated with its respective valve member to tend to movethat valve member to its closed position, each of the coupling membershaving abutment means for engaging the valve member of the othercoupling member and moving the same to its open position in oppositionto its respective spring means as the coupling members are beingdisposed in their coupling engagement. For example, see the U.S. patentto Spinosa et al, No. 4,506,862; the U.S. patent to King et al, No.4,614,201 and the U.S. patent to Rabushka et al, No. 4,691,941.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one feature of this invention to provide a new breakaway couplingby utilizing an annular slide valve member arrangement in a uniquemanner.

In particular, it has been found that a breakaway coupling that utilizesa double poppet valve arrangement to seal during uncoupling thereof hasa disadvantage because the coupling tends to be too large and requiresauxiliary sealing between the two poppets.

Accordingly, it was found according to the teachings of this inventionthat by utilizing an annular sleeve valve member in a breakawaycoupling, the resulting breakaway coupling allows a smaller part to beutilized to achieve a similar flow area (and still maintain similarpressure drop) and eliminates the need to provide a sealing structurebetween the two movable valve members thereof.

Also, it is believed that the breakaway coupling of this invention canbe of smaller size (and weight), have a reduced number of sealinglocations and readily permits the design to be suitable for a coaxialbreakaway hose arrangement as will be apparent hereinafter.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a breakawaycoupling for incorporation into a conduit system and comprising a pairof tubular coupling members each having opposed end means one of whichis adapted to be interconnected to a part of the conduit system and theother of which is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the otherend means of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by acertain axial force means being created therebetween, each of thecoupling members having a fixed valve seat means and a movable valvemember for opening and closing its respective valve seat means wherebythe valve seat means of the coupling members must both be open before afluid flow can pass through the coupling members, each of the couplingmembers having spring means operatively associated with its respectivevalve member to tend to move that valve member to its closed position,each of the coupling members having abutment means for engaging thevalve member of the other coupling member and moving the same to itsopen position in opposition to its respective spring means as thecoupling members are being disposed in their coupling engagement, thefixed valve seat means of one of the coupling members comprising acup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected by sidewall meansto an open end disposed in fluid communication with the one opposed endmeans of the one coupling member, the sidewall means having openingmeans therethrough, said valve member of said one coupling membercomprising an annular slide member telescopically receiving thecup-shaped member therein so as to slide on the sidewall means and tendto be urged to a position thereon by its spring means to close theopening means thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a newbreakaway coupling for incorporation into a conduit system, the couplingof this invention having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of making abreakaway coupling for incorporation into a conduit system, the methodof this invention having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new conduit systemhaving a breakaway coupling therein, the system of this invention havingone or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth aboveor hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of making aconduit system having a breakaway coupling incorporated therein, themethod of this invention having one or more of the novel features ofthis invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view schematically illustrating thenew conduit system of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the breakaway coupling portionof the system of FIG. 1 and is taken in the direction of the arrows 2--2of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates the breakawaycoupling in its uncoupled condition.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2and illustrates the new breakaway coupling of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the coupling membersof FIG. 4 in their uncoupled condition.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates a breakaway couplingof this invention being utilized in a coaxial conduit system.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates another breakawaycoupling of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the coupling membersof FIG. 7 in the uncoupled condition thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adapted to provide a breakawaycoupling for the flexible hose assembly of a dispensing gasoline pumparrangement, it is to be understood that the various features of thisinvention can be utilized singly or in various combinations thereof toprovide a breakaway arrangement for other conduit systems as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the new conduit system of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a newbreakaway coupling of this invention that is generally indicated by thereference numeral 21 incorporated into the system 20, the system 20illustrated in FIG. 1 further comprising a conventional curbside fueldispensing pump means 22 interconnected to a dispensing nozzleconstruction 23 by a flexible hose means 24 that has the breakawaycoupling 21 therein so that should the nozzle 23 be left in the fillerpipe 25 of the gasoline storage tank 26 of a transportation vehicle (notshown) and have the transportation vehicle drive away, the coupling 21will have a certain axial force imposed thereon to cause the same touncouple in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 and thereby prevent damageto the pump means 22 as is well known in the art as set forth in theaforementioned three U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,862 - Spinosa et al; U.S. Pat.No. 4,614,201 - King et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,941 - Rabushka et alwhereby these three patents are being incorporated into this disclosureby this reference thereto.

Therefore, since the reasons for the use of a breakaway coupling arewell known in the art and it is well known that such a breakawaycoupling can be disposed anywhere in a conduit system whether the sameis in the hose line 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1, adjacent the pump 22 asrepresented by the reference numeral 27, or within the conduit system ofthe pump means 22, a further discussion of the same is deemedunnecessary except as hereinafter set forth in order to fully understandthe various features of this invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the breakaway coupling 21 of this inventioncomprises two tubular coupling members 28 and 29, the coupling member 28having opposed end means 30 and 30' with the end 30' thereof beinginterconnected to a part 31 of the flexible hose 24 in any suitablemanner. For example, the part 31 can have a threaded extension 32thereon that is adapted to thread in sealing relation into an internallythreaded portion 33 of the end means 30' of the coupling member 28.Similarly, the coupling member 29 has opposed end means 34 and 34' withthe end means 34' being adapted to be interconnected to another part 36of the flexible hose means 24 such as by having the part 36 of the hosemeans 24 provided with an externally threaded extension 37 that isdisposed in threaded sealing relation within an internally threadedportion 38 of the coupling member 29.

The coupling members 28 and 29 are adapted to have the end means 30 and34 thereof disposed in a telescoping relation as illustrated in FIGS. 2and 4 so as to couple the same together, the end means 30 of thecoupling member 28 comprising a tubular extension 39 telescopicallydisposed within a tubular extension 40 that forms the end means 34 ofthe coupling member 29.

The tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28 has an outwardlydirected annular projection 41 thereof that is adapted to snap-fit intoan annular groove 42 formed in the tubular extension 40 of the couplingmember 29 as illustrated in FIG. 4 to tend to hold the coupling members28 and 29 in their coupled engagement. However, when a certain axialforce is applied between the coupling members 28 and 29, such as byhaving a vehicle tend to drive away from the pump means 22 while thenozzle 23 is disposed in the filler pipe 25 thereof as previously setforth, the coupling members 28 and 29 are uncoupled in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 5 by permitting the annular projection 41 to bepulled out of the annular groove 42 and thereby permit uncoupling of themembers 28 and 29.

The coupling member 28 has a valve means therein that is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 43 and the coupling member 29 has avalve means therein that is generally indicated by the reference numeral44, the valve means 43 and 44 respectively being disposed in an opencondition thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a manner hereinafter setforth so as to provide fluid communication through the coupling 21between the parts 31 and 36 of the hose assembly 24 when the couplingmembers 28 and 29 are disposed in the coupled engagement thereof asillustrated in FIG. 4. However, the valve means 43 and 44 are adapted torespectively be automatically moved to their closed conditions asillustrated in FIG. 5 in a manner hereinafter set forth so as to preventany fluid flow out of the ends 30 and 34 thereof from the parts 31 and36 of the hose assembly 24 when the breakaway coupling 21 is disposed inits uncoupled condition as illustrated in FIG. 5.

While the use of such valve means 43 and 44 for the previously describedpurpose are well known in the art, one feature of this invention is toprovide the valve means 43 and 44 in a unique manner so as to providethe advantages of this invention that were previously set forth.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve means 44 for the couplingmember 29 comprises a fixed valve seat means 45 and a movable valvemember 46 that is urged to its valve seat closing position of FIG. 5 bya compression spring 47 having one end 48 bearing against one end 49 ofthe valve member 46 and the other end 50 thereof bearing against anannular shoulder 51 of the coupling member 29.

The fixed valve seat means 45 for the coupling member 29 comprises acup-shaped member 52 having a substantially flat closed end 53interconnected by a substantially cylindrical sidewall means 54 to anopen end 55 thereof that is disposed in fluid communication with thethreaded opening 38 at the opposed end means 34' thereof, the cup-shapedmember 52 having a plurality of circular opening means 56 passingtherethrough in a circular array and leading from the exteriorperipheral surface 57 of the sidewall means 54 to the interiorperipheral surface 58 thereof.

The movable valve member 46 of the coupling member 29 comprises anannular slide member or sleeve 59 having an internal peripheral surface60 and an outer peripheral surface 61 as well as opposed ends 49 and 62,the slide member 59 being telescopically disposed on the sidewall means54 of the cup-shaped member 52 to slide thereon between the fully openposition of FIG. 4 which occurs when the coupling members 28 and 29 arefully coupled together in a manner hereinafter set forth and theposition where the slide valve member 59 closes the valve seat openings56 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The slide valve member 59 is adapted toseal closed the openings 56 when disposed in the closed position of FIG.5 through the cooperation of two annular sealing members 63 and 64respectively disposed on opposite sides of the openings 56 andrespectively being disposed in sealing relation between the slide member59 and the sidewall means 54 of the cup-shaped member 52.

In particular, the slide member 46 has an annular groove 65 formed inthe internal peripheral surface 60 thereof at the end 49 thereof toreceive the sealing member 63 which is disposed in compressed sealingrelation between the slide member 59 and the external peripheral surface57 of the sidewall means 54. Conversely, the annular sealing member 64is received in an annular groove 66 formed in the internal peripheralsurface 57 of the sidewall means 54 of the cup-shaped member 52 and isdisposed in compressed sealing relation between the sidewall means 54and the internal peripheral surface 60 of the slide member 59 when theslide member 59 has its end 62 moved over the sealing member 64 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 5.

The tubular extension 40 of the coupling member 29 has an annular stopshoulder 67 extending inwardly therefrom and against which the flat end62 of the slide member 59 is adapted to abut under the force of thecompression spring 47 when the slide member 59 is moved to its fullyclosed position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

However, when the tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28 isbeing telescoped within the tubular extension 40 of the coupling member29 so as to couple the coupling members 28 and 29 together, asubstantially flat end 68 of the extension 39 of the coupling member 28comprises an abutment means which abuts against the end 62 of the slidemember 59 and causes the same to move to the right in FIG. 4 inopposition to the force of the compression spring 47 and thereby move tothe fully open position by the time the extensions 39 and 40 are coupledtogether by the cooperating projection 41 and groove 42 thereof aspreviously set forth.

In order to fluid seal the end 62 of the slide member 59 and theabutment end 68 of the tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28together, an annular groove 69 is formed in the flat end face 62 of theslide member 59 and receives an annular sealing member 70 therein whichis adapted to be disposed in compressed sealing relation against thesurface 69 of the coupling member 28 when the surfaces 68 and 62 arebrought together as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The valve means 43 of the coupling member 28 comprises a fixed valveseat means 71 and a movable valve member 72 that is urged to its closedcondition with the valve seat means 71 by a compression spring 73 havingone end 74 bearing against the valve member 72 and the other end 75thereof bearing against a split spring retainer 76 disposed in anannular groove 77 formed in the coupling member 28 as illustrated.

The fixed valve seat means 71 of the coupling member 29 comprises aninternal peripheral surface 78 formed in the end 68 of the tubularextension 39 thereof and leads to a stepped opening means 79 thatextends to the threaded opening 33 thereof at the end means 30' thereof.

The movable valve member 72 of the coupling member 28 comprises acup-shaped member 80 that has a substantially flat closed end 81interconnected by a substantially cylindrical sidewall means 82 to anopen end 83 thereof that is disposed in fluid communication with theopening 33 at the end means 30' thereof, the sidewall means 82 of thecup-shaped member 80 having a plurality of opening means 84 passingthrough the sidewall means 82 in a circular array and extending from theouter peripheral surface 85 thereof to the internal peripheral surface86 thereof as illustrated.

The cup-shaped valve member 80 of the coupling member 28 has an annulargroove 87 formed in the external peripheral surface 85 of the sidewallmeans 82 thereof and receives an annular sealing member 88 therein thatis adapted to be disposed in sealing and compressed relation against thevalve seat surface 78 of the fixed valve seat member 71 when thecup-shaped valve member 80 is moved to the closed position asillustrated in FIG. 5, the valve member 72 being held against an annularshoulder means 89 of the tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28by the compression spring 73 when valve member 72 is disposed in thefully closed position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

However, when the coupling members 28 and 29 are being coupled togetherby telescoping the tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28 withinthe tubular extension 40 of the coupling member 29 as previously setforth, the end wall 81 of the valve member 72 of the coupling member 28engages against the fixed abutment means or end wall 53 of the fixedvalve seat means 45 of the coupling member 29 so that the valve member72, in effect, is moved away from the valve seat surface 78 while thespring 73 thereof is being compressed in the manner illustrated in FIG.4 so that when the tubular extensions 39 and 40 are fully coupledtogether by the cooperating projection 41 and groove 42 in the mannerpreviously set forth, both valve members 59 and 80 of the valve means 44and 43 are held in the open condition thereof so that a fluid flow canbe provided between the coupling members 28 and 29. For example, thereis fluid interconnection between the opening 33 and in the end means 30'of the coupling member 28 and outwardly through the openings 84 in thecup-shaped valve member 72 to the openings 56 in the fixed valve seatmeans 45 of the coupling member 29 and into the interior of the fixedvalve seat means 45 to the opening 38 at the end means 34' of thecoupling member 29.

However, when the coupling members 28 and 29 are uncoupled by an axialforce being imposed therebetween so that the coupling members 28 and 29are disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the compressionspring 47 moves the slide valve member 59 to its closed position asillustrated in FIG. 5 to seal closed the openings 56 thereof and thecup-shaped valve member 80 of the coupling member 28 is moved by thecompression spring 73 to its closed position whereby both valve means 44and 43 of the coupling members 29 and 28 are closed so as to prevent anyfluid from the parts 31 and 36 of the conduit system 20 from flowing outof the uncoupled coupling members 28 and 29.

Thus, it can be seen that the breakaway coupling 21 of this inventionoperates in a simple and effective manner to permit fluid flow to passthrough the breakaway coupling 21 when the coupling members 28 and 29are disposed in the coupled condition as illustrated in FIG. 4 and toprevent fluid flow out of the coupling members 28 and 29 when the sameare uncoupled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5.

In particular, when it is desired to couple the members 28 and 29together, the tubular extension 39 of the coupling member 28 is insertedinto the tubular extension 40 of the coupling member 29 and the abutmentsurface 68 of the extension 39 of the coupling member 28 engages againstthe slide valve member 59 of the coupling member 29 and moves the samefrom its closed position to its open position in opposition to the forceof the compression spring 47 while the valve member 72 of the couplingmember 28 engages against the abutment surface 53 of the coupling member29 and causes the valve member 72 to be moved away from the fixed valveseat surface 78 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 73so as to provide fluid communication between the coupling members 28 and29 through the open opening means 84 and 56 of the cup-shaped members 72and 52 of the coupling members 28 and 29.

However, when the coupling members 28 and 29 are uncoupled from eachother, the compression spring 47 closes the slide member 59 and thecompression spring 73 closes the valve member 72 as illustrated in FIG.5.

While the conduit system 20 previously set forth has the hose means 24thereof comprising a single hose for delivering fuel from the pump means22 to the nozzle means 23, it is to be understood that the conduitsystem of this invention can comprise a coaxial vapor recovery conduitsystem wherein an inner product hose is utilized to direct fuel from thepump means to the dispensing nozzle while a surrounding hose meanscreates a vapor recovery passage means between the outer surroundinghose means and the inner product hose means for returning vapors of thedispensed fuel back to the pump means, such coaxial vapor recovery hosearrangement being well known in the art as set forth in the U.S. patentto Basham, No. 3,980,112 and the U.S. patent to Furrow et al, No.4,687,033 whereby these two patents are being incorporated into thisdisclosure by this reference thereto.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 6 wherein another conduitsystem of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral20A and parts thereof similar to the conduit system 20 previouslydescribed are indicated by like reference numerals followed by thereference letter "A".

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the conduit system 20A comprises an innerproduct hose means 24A for delivering liquid fuel therethrough from apump means (not shown) to a dispensing nozzle means (not shown) insubstantially the same manner as the hose means 24 of FIG. 1 and anouter hose means 100 receiving the product hose 24A coaxially thereinand thereby defining a passage means 101 between the inner peripheralsurface means 102 of the outer hose 100 and the outer peripheral surface103 of the inner product hose 24A for directing vapors of the liquidfuel to a vapor recovery means in a manner well known in the art as setforth in the aforementioned U.S. patents to Basham and Furrow et al.

The conduit system 20A of this invention also includes a breakawaycoupling means of this invention that is generally indicated by thereference numeral 21A and comprises two coupling members 28A and 29Athat are respectively interconnected to adjacent parts 31A and 36A ofthe product hose 24A and have the unique valve means 43A and 44A thereinfor performing the fluid interconnecting path between the parts 31A and36A when the couplings 28A and 29A are disposed in their coupledengagement as previously set forth and for closing off the parts 31A and36A of the hose means 24A when the coupling members 28A and 29A areseparated by an axial force being imposed upon the conduit system 20A aspreviously set forth.

In addition, the coupling members 28A and 29A respectively have tubularextensions 104 and 105 respectively spaced outwardly from the tubularextensions 39A and 40A thereof and being adapted to be telescopicallydisposed and interconnected together by an annular projection 106 on thetubular extension 104 being received in an annular groove 107 in thetubular extension 105 in the same manner that the tubular extensions 39Aand 40A are coupled together by the annular projection 41A and annulargroove 42A as previously set forth.

The coupling members 28A and 29A respectively have a plurality ofpassage means 108 and 109 formed therein and interconnecting an annularspace 110 located inwardly from the tubular extensions 104 and 105 tothreaded opening means 111 and 112 that respectively surround, in spacedrelation, the coupled parts 31A and 36A of the inner hose 24A asillustrated. In this manner, the outer hose 100 can have adjacent parts113 and 114 thereof threadedly interconnected to the openings 111 and112 of the coupling members 28A and 29A so that the vapor recoverypassage 101 is interconnected together between the parts 113 and 114 bythe openings 108 and 109 in the coupling members 28A and 29A as well asthe annular passage 110 between the interconnected tubular extensions104 and 105 and the interconnected tubular extensions 39A and 40A.

Therefore, it can be seen that the breakaway coupling 21A of thisinvention functions in substantially the same manner as the breakawaycoupling 21 previously set forth in regard to the valve means 43A and44A thereof and the tubular extensions 104 and 105 of the couplingmembers 28A and 29A permit the same to form a continuation of the vaporrecovery passage means 101 when the coupling members 28A and 29A aredisposed in their coupling engagement as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Therefore, since the operation of the conduit system 20A issubstantially the same as the operation of the conduit system 20previously set forth, a further discussion thereof is deemedunnecessary.

Another breakaway coupling of this invention is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 21B in FIGS. 7 and 8 and parts thereof similar tothe breakaway coupling 20 previously set forth are indicated by likereference numerals followed by the reference letter "B".

The breakaway coupling 21B is substantially the same as the breakawaycoupling 21 previously described except that the cup-shaped member 52Band cup-shaped valve member 72B do not carry any annular sealing means.Instead, the fixed valve seat surface 78B of the coupling member 28B isinterrupted by an annular groove 120 which receives an annular sealingmember 121 therein that is adapted to be disposed in compressed sealingengagement between the fixed valve seat means 71B and the sidewall means82B of the cup-shaped valve member 72B when the valve member 72B is inthe closed position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Similarly, the slide valve member 59B of the coupling member 29B notonly carries the annular sealing member 63B at the end 49B thereof, butalso the slide valve member 59B carries another annular sealing member122 in an annular groove 123 at the end 62B thereof so that both sealingmeans 122 and 63B are disposed in compressed sealing relation againstthe sidewall means 57B of the cup-shaped member 52B on opposite sides ofthe openings 56B to seal the same closed when the slide valve member 59Bis disposed in the closed condition as illustrated in FIG. 8.

In addition, the tubular extension 39B of the coupling 28B is providedwith an annular groove 124 which receives an annular sealing member 125therein that is adapted to cooperate with the tubular extension 40B ofthe coupling member 29B to provide for a frictional securementtherebetween when the coupling members 28B and 29B are disposed in thecoupling engagement illustrated in FIG. 7 so that it requires a certainaxial force between the coupling members 28B and 29B to separate thesame from the coupled condition in FIG. 7 to the uncoupled conditionillustrated in FIG. 8.

Thus, it can be seen that the annular sealing means 121 of the valveseat means 71B performs the same function as the sealing means 88 of themovable valve member 72. Likewise, the sealing member 122 of the slidemember 59B performs the same sealing function as the annular sealingmember 64 of the fixed valve seat means 52 of the coupling member 29previously described.

Therefore, since the operation of the breakaway coupling 21B issubstantially the same as the operation of the breakaway coupling 21previously set forth, a further discussion of the operation thereof isdeemed unnecessary.

From the above, it can be seen that this invention not only provides newconduit systems and new breakaway couplings therefor, but also thisinvention provides new methods of making conduit systems and breakawaycouplings therefor.

While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have beenillustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to beunderstood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and stillfall within the scope of the appended claims wherein each claim setsforth what is believed to be known in each claim prior to this inventionin the portion of each claim that is disposed before the terms "theimprovement" and sets forth what is believed to be new in each claimaccording to this invention in the portion of each claim that isdisposed after the terms "the improvement" whereby it is believed thateach claim sets forth a novel, useful and unobvious invention within thepurview of the Patent Statute.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a method of making a breakaway coupling forincorporation into a conduit system and comprising a pair of tubularcoupling members each having opposed end means one of which is adaptedto be interconnected to a part of said conduit system and the other ofwhich is held in sealing and coupling engagement with the other endmeans of the other coupling member until uncoupled therefrom by acertain axial force means being created therebetween, each of saidcoupling members having a fixed valve seat means and a movable valvemember for opening and closing its respective said valve seat meanswhereby said valve seat means of said coupling members must both be openbefore a fluid flow can pass through said coupling members, each of saidcoupling members having spring means operatively associated with itsrespective valve member to tend to move that valve member to its closedposition, each of said coupling members having abutment means forengaging said valve member of the other coupling member and moving thesame to its open position in opposition to its respective spring meansas said coupling members are being disposed in their said couplingengagement, said fixed valve seat means of one of said coupling memberscomprising a cup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected bysidewall means to an open end disposed in fluid communication with theone opposed end means of said one coupling member, said sidewall meanshaving opening means therethrough, said valve member of said onecoupling member comprising an annular slide member telescopicallyreceiving said cup-shaped member therein so as to slide on said sidewallmeans and tend to be urged to a position thereon by its said springmeans to close said opening means, the improvement comprising the stepof forming said annular slide member to comprise a one-piece memberhaving a rectangular transverse cross-sectional configuration thatdefines flat parallel opposed annular end surfaces of said slide memberand concentrically disposed inner and outer cylindrical peripheralsurfaces of said slide member that extend completely between said flatopposed annular end surfaces and that respectively have circulartransverse cross-sectional configurations of the same diametersthroughout the entire lengths thereof.
 2. A method as set forth in claim1 and including the steps of forming said slide member to have opposedends, and disposing an annular sealing means to be carried by one ofsaid ends of said slide member and be disposed in sealing relationbetween said one end of said slide member and said sidewall means ofsaid cup-shaped member in all operative positions of said slide memberon said sidewall means.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 2 andcomprising the step of disposing a second annular sealing means to becarried by the other of said ends of said slide member and be disposedin sealing relation between said other end of said slide member and saidabutment means of the other of said coupling members when said couplingmembers are in said coupling engagement thereof.
 4. A method as setforth in claim 3 and comprising the step of disposing a third annularsealing means to be carried on said sidewall means of said cup-shapedmember on one side of said opening means and be adapted to be disposedin sealing relation between said sidewall means and said other end ofsaid slide member when said slide member is in its closed position.
 5. Amethod as set forth in claim 4 and comprising the step of forming saidsealing member that is carried by said one end of said slide member toalways be disposed on the other side of said opening means of saidcup-shaped member in all operating positions of said slide memberwhereby said opening means is sealed closed by said slide member beingin said closed position thereof.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 5 andcomprising the steps of forming said one coupling member to have stopmeans, and causing said slide member to be urged against said stop meansby said spring means thereof when said slide member is in said closedposition thereof.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 and comprising thestep of forming said closed end of said cup-shaped member of said onecoupling member to comprise said abutment means thereof.
 8. A method asset forth in claim 1 and comprising the steps of forming said valvemember of the other of said coupling members to comprise a cup-shapedmember having a closed end interconnected by sidewall means to an openend that is disposed in fluid communication with the one opposed endmeans of said other coupling member, and forming said sidewall means ofsaid cup-shaped member of said other coupling member to have openingmeans therethrough.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 and comprisingthe step of disposing an annular sealing means to be carried on saidsidewall means of said cup-shaped valve member of said other couplingmember for being disposed in sealing relation with said fixed valve seatmeans of said other coupling member when said valve member of said othercoupling member is in the closed position thereof.
 10. In a method ofmaking a conduit system having a breakaway coupling incorporated thereinand comprising a pair of tubular coupling members each having opposedend means one of which is interconnected to a part of said conduitsystem and the other of which is held in sealing and coupling engagementwith the other end means of the other coupling member until uncoupledtherefrom by a certain axial force means being created therebetween,each of said coupling members having a fixed valve seat means and amovable valve member for opening and closing its respective said valveseat means whereby said valve seat means of said coupling members mustboth be open before a fluid flow can pass through said coupling members,each of said coupling members having spring means operatively associatedwith its respective valve member to tend to move that valve member toits closed position, each of said coupling members having abutment meansfor engaging said valve member of the other coupling member and movingthe same to its open position in opposition to its respective springmeans as said coupling members are being disposed in their said couplingengagement, said fixed valve seat means of one of said coupling memberscomprising a cup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected bysidewall means to an open end disposed in fluid communication with theone opposed end means of said one coupling member, said sidewall meanshaving opening means therethrough, said valve member of said onecoupling member comprising an annular slide member telescopicallyreceiving said cup-shaped member therein so as to slide on said sidewallmeans and tend to be urged to a position thereon by its said springmeans to close said opening means, the improvement comprising the stepof forming said annular slide member to comprise a one-piece memberhaving a rectangular transverse cross-sectional configuration thatdefines flat parallel opposed annular end surfaces of said slide memberand concentrically disposed inner and outer cylindrical peripheralsurfaces of said slide member that extend completely between said flatopposed annular end surfaces and that respectively have circulartransverse cross-sectional configurations of the same diametersthroughout the entire lengths thereof.
 11. A method as set forth inclaim 10 and including the steps of forming said slide member to haveopposed ends, and disposing an annular sealing means to be carried byone of said ends of said slide member and be disposed in sealingrelation between said one end of said slide member and said sidewallmeans of said cup-shaped member in all operative positions of said slidemember on said sidewall means.
 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 andcomprising the step of disposing a second annular sealing means to becarried by the other of said ends of said slide member and be disposedin sealing relation between said other end of said slide member and saidabutment means of the other of said coupling members when said couplingmembers are in said coupling engagement thereof.
 13. A method as setforth in claim 12 and comprising the step of disposing a third annularsealing means to be carried on said sidewall means of said cup-shapedmember on one side of said opening means and be adapted to be disposedin sealing relation between said sidewall means and said other end ofsaid slide member when said slide member is in its closed position. 14.A method as set forth in claim 13 and comprising the step of formingsaid sealing member that is carried by said one end of said slide memberto always be disposed on the other side of said opening means of saidcup-shaped member in all operating positions of said slide memberwhereby said opening means is sealed closed by said slide member beingin said closed position thereof.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 14and comprising the steps of forming said one coupling member to havestop means, and causing said slide member to be urged against said stopmeans by said spring means thereof when said slide member is in saidclosed position thereof.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 10 andcomprising the step of forming said closed end of said cup-shaped memberof said one coupling member to comprise said abutment means thereof. 17.A method as set forth in claim 10 and comprising the steps of formingsaid valve member of the other of said coupling members to comprise acup-shaped member having a closed end interconnected by sidewall meansto an open end that is disposed in fluid communication with the oneopposed end means of said other coupling member, and forming saidsidewall means of said cup-shaped member of said other coupling memberto have opening means therethrough.
 18. A method as set forth in claim17 and comprising the step of disposing an annular sealing means to becarried on said sidewall means of said cup-shaped valve member of saidother coupling member for being disposed in sealing relation with saidfixed valve seat means of said other coupling member when said valvemember of said other coupling member is in the closed position thereof.19. A method as set forth in claim 10 and including the step of formingsaid conduit system to comprise a flexible hose means for dispensingliquid fuel.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 10 and including thestep of forming said conduit system to comprise part of a liquid fueldispensing system.